Starting the Hand clan!

Guess what?!! We're expecting! I'm 10 weeks today. The little one is expected to finish cooking in the oven on Brian's birthday, Dec 6th! We're so excited!

Easter . . . and turning 29!

This year I got to share my birthday with Easter -- that's something special (but, not a first). It was an incredibly sunny day, reminding me of so many blessings . . . starting with our Savior's sacrifice and resurrection (Hallelujah!), rich fellowship at church as we have Easter breakfast together, being with family and friends, and all the ways my hubby blessed me (really during the whole weekend). Oh, and the icing on the cake was that it was a 4-day weekend for both Brian and I.

Bri always decorates the kitchen for my birthday, and I love it

We slimmed down from last year's 14 Easter guests to just 9

I am in love with our forsythia bushes -- I'm always snipping it

Jenna and the jalepeno-cream cheese-bacon appetizers that her finger burned and swole up from . . . oh, but they were good!

Bri perfecting his lambchop appetizers . . . mm mm good!

The lambchops really need their own picture

All the Easter peeps . . . a special shout-out to the Riggall's, we love you guys!

While we're at it, we really should show the latest Hand addition, compliments of Jeremy Riggall . . . it's not often friends find you a new dishwasher . . . many, many thanks!

We had a chance to be with more family on Easter evening . . .

And some more family: cousins Rachel, Michelle & Mark

Happy Birthday Jenna!

We had some fun times at Outback for Jenna's birthday dinner! There was lots of family and "covenant" family as we call it . . . church peeps that are like family.

Here I am with the birthday girl. Jenna, I'm thankful to have you as my sister-in-law!


The main reason Jenna loves Outback: bloomin' onions!

Me, my sis, my sis's BFF, and my sis-in-law . . . love these girls!

Playing goofy games while we wait on dinner

Jenna in love with her Tinkerbell cake . . . she's our Disney lover!

Hand Designs

My business, Hand Designs sure has been keeping me on my toes lately. Between all the bridal showers and baby showers this Spring has brought, there have been many other orders coming in. Here is a bridal shower gift to the left.


I've also recently done a towel cake, matching the bridesmaid's fushia dresses . . .



Here are some more announcements and recent stationery

Hello blog

It's been a while -- over a month. Life has been full, and the blog had to take a back seat.

After glancing at my picture, you may have thought I've gone crazy. Uhm, probably yes. Or, just being silly on the girls youth retreat, and someone happened to capture it. Most of February and March I was preparing for leading a girls youth retreat up in the Poconos. I was one of the 3 woman leaders, and there were about 25 girls. Guess what? I got to drive a 15 passenger van all weekend. It was honestly a blast; I never would have thought. The theme of the weekend was True Beauty. We had a session on beauty and your identity (in Christ), a session on modesty, and one on dating/sexual purity. God really answered lots of prayers that weekend. I love watching girls bond and seeing friendships grow. It's hard not to think of these girls as your own kids a lot of time. Some weekend highlights: playing 4-on-a-couch, watching the girls interact with the lessons, bonding as we shopped at the outlets, swimming in the rec center, and being goofy girls.

I wish I took more pictures, but honestly it's the last thing on my mind when there are 25 girls that need your attention. I often just handed off the camera to someone and asked for them to click away. Here are a few shots.

Church-filled weekend

Did I mention we love our church peeps?!! Really, I mean we love them. They are seriously like family. I think that's one of the reasons being so involved at church is a joy for us. Brian and I have been at our church for quite some time (for Brian over 15 years, and for me 10 years). There is such beauty in really knowing people's stories and lives . . . and really living in community. I really feel that. God is good.

So, this weekend, you could say we are church-groupies for as much time as we spent with church peeps. Friday night was game-night (one pic above), which my parents hosted. We had some serious laughing there. You could rotated from game to game all night. We played Battle of the Sexes, Apples to Apples, and Buzz Word. Fun times.

Saturday, Brian had a work day at church (helping with church renovations) while I got a big Hand Design order completed and shipped out. We gulped down some lunch around 1:30pm and then were back to church at 2pm for food preparations. Our 9th/10th grade Sunday school class was preparing food for the big lunch our church serves on the last Sunday of the month for low-income locals. So, we cooked up a storm for 3 hours in the church kitchen, listening to some good tunes. We went out for dinner at a local pizza joint with my sister and her BFF who were going to spend the night with us (they are in our Sunday school class). Then, we were back to church for our couples small group. Brian led the lesson in our evangelism series. Great discussion -- I love those couples. Joy and her BFF were the babysitters for the kiddos during the study. (Then, we went home and relaxed around 9:30pm).

Sunday (today) was a fun "sleepover" breakfast. Joy and her BFF (Megan) spend the night fairly often, so we have some fun rituals. Then, we were all out the door at 7:50am. Megan and I are singers in our worship team, Joy had nursery, and Brian ushered. Then, Brian and I taught Sunday school (our NT Survey) looking at 2 Peter. Then, we prepared the lunch for all 39 guests. Two of our students gave a talk before the meal, and Brian did also. Did you want to know the menu we served? Minestrone soup, salad, bread . . . then, ham-potato-cheese casserole, green beans, fruit cup, . . . then chocolate cake with cream-cheese icing with a Hershey kiss on top. The students did a great job preparing, doing all the set up, serving, giving talks, and cleaning up.

Well, after we got home at 3:30, guess what we did today . . . napped. You might think this weekend was a bit ridiculous, (and it was definitely busier than our usual weekends), but we loved it.

Phantom in NYC

We had a great time folks! For those of you in the Philly area, I highly recommend Hagey Tours. They offer great prices for transportation (in a coach bus) and your theater ticket. They actually have tons of tours, but one-day tours to NYC for a show are all I've done so far. It really made the day a dream, especially because neither Brian or I were pumped about driving into NYC.

Once we arrived in NYC, we were even more glad that we hadn't driven. Wow, can we say . . . crazy construction EVERYWHERE and hoards (and I mean hoards of people)?!!! We spent most of our time in Times Square, which is fun and wild, but really, do you need that many televisions everywhere? No wonder there are so many accidents. I think we crossed every street corner with about 200 other people. There cars could barely swim through us all. Oh, did I mention we were in NYC on Valentine's Day? Maybe that's why all the peeps were out and about.

When we got off the bus, we just stretched our legs for a while, walking the streets. We had fun in the huge M&M store: 3 floors of chocolatey goodness. It smells divine in there.

We had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe Times Square for lunch. We have a funny fetish with Hard Rocks; it all started in Santo Domingo, DR. Ask me about the story some time. Anyway, we started with the nachos, in our usual manner. (We probably should have asked someone to take our picture . . . at least once during the day. Oops. Here's my meager attempt).

Then, off to the show! It was spectular peeps! We loved it. We were the 2nd row in the balcony. The singers were amazing as well as the special effects. Oh, and for my friends from DCCS, guess who sat a few rows behind us at the show? Jamie Deagler -- wow, blast from the past. We barely recognized each other; it's been 10 years.

After the show, we got Starbucks drinks and mosied back to the bus. We were home by 8pm. We still had a night together at home. What a fabulous Valentine's Day!

Headed to NYC

Tomorrow we will be seeing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway! Ooo, I'm so excited! It's a Valentine's Day treat!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Happy Birthday Kim!

Last night, we celebrated Kim's (my step-mom) birthday. I love being with family. Kim's special request was pizza and a homemade chocolate cake with buttercream icing. I did the cake, and my dad did the rest. Does anyone else out there absolutely love cream sode?!! I hadn't had it in a long while and it tasted wonderful with the pizza.

Here are some pics from the festivities . . .
Yellow roses, her favorite . . . and the cake












Fun casual dining

Joy and Kim

Brian and Tucker

The girls

Snow Day

Yesterday we got about 3 inches of snow and then ice. I worked from home, and Brian enjoyed a day off from school. It was a nice change of pace, and it's always nice to look out at the snow in the yard.

I have to say that the highlight was the incredible quesadillas that Brian made for lunch. Wow! The best I ever had!!! Here's what were in them: taco meat, turkey bacon, black beans, red peppers, carmelized onions, cheddar cheese . . . then, top it with sour cream and mango salsa! Mmm, mmm, mmm.


Here's some pics of the yard: